Chapter 4

Weak light filtered into Lightning's den. She yawned and stretched, prepared for what lay ahead. As she thought back to her dream, she remembered what Tallstar had told them all. We will be watching over you. Lightning shook herself free of the dream, ready to discover the life that her parents had loved so much. As she walked out of her den for the last time, she was ambushed.

"OOOOOOOF!" she huffed as the breath was drained from her body by the force that had landed on her. She rolled over and leapt up, looking around and seeing a brown she-cat with a plume-like tail tipped with white.

The she-cat purred with delight. "Admit it Lightning, you had no idea I was there! Finally I won! I actually bested you at stalking."

Lightning snorted with aggravation. "Honey, why did you choose today to do that? I have to go, and I don't need a distraction."

Honey wilted. "You said keep trying, and I did. Besides, where are you going? We were supposed to go hunting today! Lightning, you really aren't looking well. Did you get enough sleep?"

"Honey," Lightning said slowly, "I am fine. We cannot go hunting today, there is no prey to hunt, remember? Since you're here, I want to tell you that I won't be returning after today. Some friends and I are going to find a new place and-" She broke off, wondering if she should tell Honey about what the StarClan cats had said. Then she realized Honey wouldn't be tough enough, and shook the feeling off. "Honey, I'm sorry. You can't come."

Honey bristled, and her hackles raised. "You just don't want me to come because you don't think I'm strong enough to make a long journey. Let's get something straight Lightning, I am not the sickly kit that you found many moons ago! If you don't want to let me come, I'll follow behind you. No one here likes me, and you're my only friend. I want to make more friends, and this is my chance."

Lightning stepped back, shocked at how fierce Honey sounded. Then she noticed Honey was right, Honey had grown a lot from when she was a young kit that continually got sick. "Ok Honey, you can come. Just be warned, this will be harder than you think."

Honey bounced up, excited. "Oh thank you Lightning! I promise I won't be trouble."

Lightning just shook her head. "Come on, we need to try to eat before we meet with the others."

They crept closer toward the river, where both cats were able to catch a couple of voles. Lightning then lead Honey toward the twisted tree, where they found Stream, Dark, and Breeze waiting patiently.

As they neared, Dark's eyes widened. "What is that?" she asked incredulously.

Lightning replied warily, "It's my friend, Honey. She wanted to come, although I didn't know how much to tell her."

Honey burst in, her eyes flashing. "Lightning is way more than a friend to me. She's given me care when I was sick as a kit. I need to be with her."

"The thing is, if you come with us, you need to be really strong. You must be able to handle anything. Our journey is not one to be taken lightly," Stream warned her.

Honey scoffed, "Yes, because finding a new spot to hunt requires such seriousness."

Breeze look at Lightning and said, "We may as well just tell her everything. It won't harm her to know, and it may dissuade her." He turned to Honey and asked, "Have you ever heard of the four Clans and StarClan?"

Honey replied, "Yes, Lightning would tell me the stories her mother and father would tell her, and they sound really cool. She said her parents lived that life."

Dark growled, "All of our parents did, and that's why we're here. StarClan has challenged us to rebuild those Clans."

"You all have bees in your brains!" Honey declared. Turning to Lightning, she asked, "Do you believe this load of mouse dung?"

Lightning said, "Yes, I do. I met these cats last night in a dream. How do you think I knew to come here?"

Honey's eyes grew wide, and she whispered, "I think you've gone insane! Now I know I'm going with you!"

Breeze looked at her and said, "I hope you keep up. We have a long journey ahead."

Honey nodded her head and said, "Don't worry about me, I have energy. Be worried about yourself."

Lightning whispered to Stream, "She's a bit cheeky. Don't pay her any mind."

Stream replied back, "I'm not going to. Dark, on the other hand, looks as though she's willing to tear Honey's head off." Then he address the group. "It's sunhigh, and Tallstar said that we should leave now. We head toward the setting sun, with StarClan's blessing. Remember, we aren't doing this for us, we're doing this for StarClan to fulfill their prophecy."

Lightning quickly added, "This journey is how we are going to learn the warrior code, as well as many other survival skills needed for living in a group. We get to see what our parents saw in this life, and why they try to ingrain those stories in our heads."

Breeze gave a tense nod. "Right, let's go."

One by one, each cat took a last look at what used to be their home before turning and walking toward the sunset.